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A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

Judaism

Rabbi Suzanne Brody is Middle School Judaics Coordinator at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School 

Encountering Torah’s intriguing and mysterious character, Serach

Rabbi Suzanne BrodyPublished December 4, 2013

Of all of the people found in Tanakh, the one whom I have always wanted to meet is a rather elusive character. We don’t know much about her from the Torah itself, but what we do know is enough to have sparked imaginations for centuries. She has her...

Brigitte Rosenberg is Senior Rabbi at  United Hebrew Congregation and is  a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.

Parashat’s lessons resonate at holidays

By Rabbi Brigitte RosenbergPublished November 27, 2013

This week, our Torah portion begins with Joseph being called upon to interpret two of Pharaoh’s dreams.  Before interpreting them, Joseph tells Pharaoh that his ability comes from God and that perhaps God is sending a message to Pharaoh through his...

Rabbi Lane Steinger serves Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association.  

Joseph’s journey in becoming a wise, mature leader

By Rabbi Lane SteingerPublished November 20, 2013

This week we begin the story of Joseph, which will take up most of the remainder of the Book of Genesis. Our Torah Portion is Va’yeshev, Genesis 37:1-40:23. Actually, we first met Joseph two weeks ago, when he was born. Then the Torah told us, “God...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Rachel’s D’var Torah: Parashat Vayeishev

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished November 20, 2013

This week, we read Vayeishev, the famous story of Joseph—his dreams, his colorful coat, and his envious brothers. This story, like many others throughout the Torah, was first introduced to me in a fun and lighthearted manner: through the Joseph and...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

Planning for life’s surprises

BY RACHEL LAVICTOIREPublished November 7, 2013

I love to plan—my day, my week, my class schedule, my friend’s schedule, you name it, I plan it. From the minute I woke up this morning I knew exactly what my day would look like: 8:30 a.m. alarm, 8:40 roll out of bed, spend an hour getting dressed...

Rabbi Seth D Gordon serves Traditional Congregation and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association. 

Parashat Va-Yetse: How God visited Ya’akov through a dream

By Rabbi Seth D GordonPublished November 6, 2013

Va-Yetse opens with Ya’akov’s flight from Be’er Sheva in southern Israel to Haran in modern-day Syria, where his mother’s family lives.  Ya’akov’s flight from home is a reaction to Esav’s threat to kill him over a berachah / blessing. ...

Rabbi Dale Schreiber

Parashat Toldot demonstrates the risks of parental favoritism

By Rabbi Dale SchreibePublished October 30, 2013

Our portion begins with eleh toldot, these are the generations of Isaac. The word toldot has a number of meanings. One is generations. Other equally compelling renderings are — these are the consequences or outcomes. The portion is the mid-point of...

D’var Torah: The life of Sarah

By Rabbi James Stone GoodmanPublished October 23, 2013

The portion Life of Sarah (Chayei Sarah) begins with the death of Sarah, as if the confrontation with death refines the notion of life. At the end of life, life clarifies. Nothing brings a person to the long look at existence like the brink. When you...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

D’var Torah: Parashat Vayeira

BY RACHEL LAVICTOIREPublished October 17, 2013

Did you know… -     Breakfast, as we understand it today, didn’t exist for a large part of history. In fact, ancient Romans saw it as gluttonous to eat more than one meal a day.-     My high school in Atlanta is five hundred and fifty-five...

Rabbi Jim Bennett

Why God responded to the cry of the boy Ishmael

By Rabbi Jim BennettPublished October 16, 2013

 “God heard the cry of the boy, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the cry of the boy (Ishmael) where he is” (Genesis 21:17) The Torah speaks powerfully...

Rachel LaVictoire,  is a recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Eliott Merit scholarships at Washington University, where she is a sophomore. She grew up in Atlanta, where she is an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.

D’var Torah: Abram’s physical and metaphorical journey

By Rachel LaVictoirePublished October 11, 2013

Total belief and devotion to G-d and to Judaism is probably one of the only concepts that’s easier for a child than for an adult. When we’re young, it’s simple; the logic is so cut and dry: We know G-d exists because… (1) People have been believing...

Rabbi Amy Feder

Following Abram’s brave example

BY RABBI AMY FEDERPublished October 9, 2013

Last week, an article in the New York Times presented the findings of a recent survey of American Jews (see related story on Page One). The results, while complicated, were presented with a simple, dire proclamation: American Jews are losing their religion. ...

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